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Travel Tips: BEST BEACHES IN BARBADOS AND RESTAURANTS NEARBY

Recipe: HOW TO MAKE A FISH MARINADE AND BAKED MAC AND CHEESE “BAJAN MACARONI PIE”

BARBADOS 2019

(Versione Italiana di Seguito)

First reason why you choose to book a trip to Barbados is, of course, beaches. But too often, anywhere we are in the world lying on a sun bed, cooking our body with a tropical heat and sipping a pinacolada, we have to eat international food, moreover too expensive. Tourism related businesses indeed, know very well that majority of vacation consumers are not seeking gastronomic adventures when overseas and they more look for comfort food. I can name here 5 dishes that you’ll probably find in all the beach clubs of the globe: burger and fries, grilled salmon, club sandwich, fried calamari and for sure something with Chinese or Thay shrimps, full of giant rats hairs. So boring.

We are never neglecting gastronomic aspect of our vacations (we prefer to pack a load of tropical fruit to the beach rather than eat frozen fries), that’s why we wrote down this little guide on 5 best Barbados beaches, giving you some tips for eat like a local with a few dollars, without going too far from your beach towel.

BEACH N. 1: MULLINS BEACH

Gorgeous beach on the west coast, between Holetown and Speighstown. Never crowded, with a parking available, you can here rent a sun bed with umbrella or just lie down under the shadow of a tree. Water is always very calm and clear. For families there’s often inflatable playground on the sea for kids (you have to pay), 15 minute rides on jet sky for parents and boat trip to book.

There’s a little bar just at the entrance of the public beach, “Adrian’s corner”,

where they serve a good homemade “rum punch” and where you can have 3 beers for $BDS 10. Massage and sometime barber also available. The only option you have for eat here is to ask a guy who work on the beach if he can order you food and he’ll bring you right on your beach towel a meal from a local restaurant, for $BDS 30. Anything you need ask for Jordan.

BEACH N. 2: SPEIGHSTOWN

Also on the west coast, almost at the very top north, Sp’town is the last town before the north point. Not yet developed as tourist destination, his beach is extremely quiet, despite is in “town centre”. Entering the town with a car, driving south, you’ll find two parking lots where you can leave your car and keep walking for the beach. Beach here is absolutely quiet, even in high season there’s few people and water is always clear and calm. There are 3 beach clubs where you can rent umbrella and sun bed but there’s a lot of shady space where lie down on your beach towel. Same besch clubs offer food and bevareages, but we always go eat at “Fisherman’s pub”, a buffet style local restaurant with a breathtaking view to the Caribbean sea. On the menu, classics from “Bajan” cuisine: steamed local veggies, sweet potatoes pie, rice and peas, macaroni pie (baked pasta with cheese, ketchup and condensed milk), baked potatoes, fried plantain, fried chicken, baked chicken, fried fish, grilled fish, fish cakes (fish and bread balls), flying fish, stewed lamb and a couple of different gravy for season your sides. A huge meal with a beer, feet dipping on the ocean, $BDS 30. There’s also WIFI.

BEACH N. 3: BATTS ROCK

West coast again. Going north from the airport, you’ll find it right after Bridgetown. Is one of those not easy to find beaches far from the main road and for so particularly quiet. A strip of sand stretch out from corals rocks and trees are almost on the water giving a suggestive atmosphere. Seabed is rocky in some points so water is particularly clear. Never overcrowded, is a beautiful choice for a peaceful day at the beach.

The only beach bar is quite expensive, a beer will cost you $BDS 8, almost 4 times the price on a local bar. If you didn’t bring your food, you have 3 options. Going up at the main road, you’ll find right in front of you a local restaurant, “D family spot”,

Chicken is really good and tender, strongly seasoned and marinated. You have to try the “Chicken sandwich”, classic burger bun filled with roasted chicken (not esay to find cause almost everybody use fried chicken). As a side you have a refreshing salad buffet.

Option 3, right across “Chicken Barn” you’ll see the Esso Gas Station, with a big “Tiger Market”. Her you can grab cold beer for $BDS 2.5, all kind of local snack from plantain chips to local cookies like chocolate and coconut “Shirley”, a small section of fresh fruit with bananas and apples and a hot section featuring hot-dogs and pizza (you must be really hungry for eat that pizza). As a dessert, as well as ice cream, a small and multicolored section of donuts.

BEACH N. 4: CARLISLE BAY

A wide white sandy beach, just south Bridgetown. This beach is packed with expats and tourists, but is so big that you will never experience the chicken farm feeling of an august beach like Riccione in Romagnola Riviera. Waters are clear and blue, even if we are on south coast here, perhaps more windy than west coast. You can rent sun bed and umbrellas, take a ride on jet sky or book a boat trip. When is time to eat, you can try one of the several beach clubs or ask those guys that rent umbrellas or water sports to order you food from a local restaurant with which they are connected. Back on main road, there’s a little restaurant with few seats outside, featuring “Bajan” classics: Rice and peas, creamy cassava, steamed vegs, chicken stew, fried chicken, fried fish and macaroni pie.

BEACH N. 4: ACCRA BEACH

Located on the south coast is top family choice, even if due to stronger south coast winds waters can be rough and wavy here (but kids love waves right?). Other than renting sun beds and umbrellas, you can also rent paddle board and surf boards for play with waves or book a surf lesson. Several kiosks and a beach bar sell beer at reasonable price (do not pay more than $BDS 4).

Top choice for us are those food-vans that come park in the parking of the beach for feed local workers. For $BDS 15 you’ll have a huge meal and a drink. Selection is amazing: cassava, plantain, creamy potatoes, rice and peas, chow-mein, salad, coleslow, fried chicken, baked chicken, fried fish, grilled fish, lamb stew, and beef, lamb or turkey gravy for season vegetables.

RECIPE: HOW TO MAKE A FISH MARINADE

You’ll mostly find big sized fish here in Barbados like Mahi-Mahi or Marlin, cut and eaten in big fillets or slices. Those kind of meat remember swordfish or dogfish but is not so fine fish. They need indeed a marinate before cooking, otherwise you’ll have easily a chewy meat.

INGREDIENTS FOR “BAJAN” MARINADE

– Chopped shallots

– Chopped garlic

– Fresh chopped ginger

– Fresh time

– Fresh marjoram

– Freshly ground Black pepper

– Apple cider vinegar

– Lime juice

– Evo

– Salt

Clean fresh herbs picking leaves. Mix in a bowl all ingredients but salt and pepper. Massage the fish with salt and pepper, then marinate in the mix for 30-40 minutes. Cook on the grill 3 minutes each side, it depends on slices thickness.

BAKED MAC AND CHEESE “BAJAN MACARONI PIE”

They use this dish here on the island as a side for fish or chicken, but you can use it like a main course, as is rich enough.

INGREDIENTS

– 500 gr macaroni, elbow ones work well

– 300 gr Cheddar cheese

– 250 gr condensed milk

– 75 gr of ketchup

– 1 tsp of mustard powder

– 1 onion

– 1 egg

– EVO

– Salt

– Freshly ground black pepper

Half cook the pasta in a large pot with salty water. Preheat oven at 180°C. Chop onion and quickly stir fry it in a pan with EVO. Grate cheese and beat egg. Strain your half cooked pasta in a bowl and season with salt, pepper, mustard, ketchup, onion, condensed milk, egg, 200 gr of grated cheese and EVO. Pour the mix in a tray and cover with the rest of cheese. Bake at 180°C for 20-25 minutes, untill well brown on top.